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Afghanistan is often called the "crossroads of Central Asia" as it is a focal point between Europe and Asia, where numerous Eurasian civilizations have interacted and often fought. The last military intervention began on the 7th of October 2001, when the United States and its allies have overthrown the Taliban government invading Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th in New York, starting the "war against terrorism." At the end of 2001, the main leaders of Afghanistan and of the diasporas got together to formulate a new governmental structure that appointed Hamid Karzai President of the Afghan authority and the president of the country. After seven years since the beginning of the conflict, Afghanistan is still a country at war, where the government has a very limited field of action and the Taliban are regaining influence in the country. For this reason, Afghanistan continues to experience a situation of profound uncertainty, with a prolonged economic crisis and a peace process that is still unfinished, also leaving an incomplete process of institutional building. Foreign investment remains very limited and only recently the refugees are finally returning from the neighbouring Pakistan. Despite the presence of international forces and Afghan soldiers, insecurity remains widespread, with entire areas under Taliban control. The reconstruction of the country, despite having been launched with significant results, is very slow because of insecurity and insufficient international aid.
In the provinces mentioned above, the activities have been: - Distributions of food and essential goods (Faryab and Balkh); - Reconstruction of schools (particularly two large female institutions for primary and secondary cycles), hospitals and health centers (Faryab, Kabul and Wardak); - Humanitarian Demining and rehabilitation of areas at risk due to a widespread presence of explosive devices with the advice of 'UNMACA, United Nations Mine Action Center for Afghanistan (Kabul, Nangahar and Kandahar); - Drilling of wells and installation of drinking water distribution networks (Faryab, Kandahar and Helmand); - Accommodation, protection and organization of a field for 50 thousand refugees returning from Pakistan (Kandahar); - Training on the risks of landmines and rules of conduct for teachers (Kabul); - Center for initial assistance and guidance to refugees and asylum seekers arrived in Kabul from - Reconstruction of houses for refugees returning from Pakistan, and supply the necessary materials (Nangahar, Konar and Laghman); - Assistance to families and highly vulnerable people among the returnees (Kabul); - Support for local institutions with training and technical assistance for the social assistance staff, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups(17 provinces); - Assistance to applicants for asylum and to those who have been granted with the “refugee” status (Kabul); - Assistance to the vulnerable groups amongst the resident population and in the “first asylum center” for refugees expelled from Iran (Herat); - Training for teachers and, language courses and professional training for boys and girls in the male-orphanage in Khaja Abdullah eAnsari and the female-orphanage in Shahid (Herat); - Strengthening the NAB, Afghan organization for blind people: children's courses for integration in public schools and professional training for adults (Herat); - Supporting the AWLF, the Afghan Women Lawyer Foundation, an association of women lawyers whom give legal assistance to women and girls in difficulty (English courses, seminars on management and administration, monitoring activities) (Herat). The activities were carried out in coordination and with the participation of local administrations and, with the financial assistance of: BNC Foundation, Associazione Marco Di Martino, ECHO, DFID, MAE-Italian Cooperation, UNFPA and UNOPS, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, WFP , Afghan Government, UNDP, EuropeAid, UNMAS, USAID and private supporters.
A) Assistance to the most needy among the refugees expelled from Iran. Professional training and initiation to work (the province of Herat) The deportation of Afghans from Iran had very high peaks in 2007 (over 300 thousand expulsions) and is expected to reach about one million Afghan deportations in 2009, many of which have been living in Iran for about two decades. INTERSOS, with the help of authorities and local NGOs, has sought to support the most vulnerable categories (children, elderly, single women with children) and created reception centers for the distribution of essential goods. The last center was made before winter for the benefit of 3400 people. Special stoves, blankets and firewood were distributed. To promote a decent social integration and to ensure security for the most needy, INTERSOS launched a craft center for professional training and to help guarantee a future employment for some of them. The objective is to involve "extended" families in the training and allow them to develop independent labour activities.
The Partners of INTERSOS are: - The local institutions, such as the provincial Departments of Labour and Social Affairs, of Refugees and returnees, of Education, of Culture and, the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Herat; - Some NGOs and associations of social utility in Herat The project is divided amongst different activities:
B) Training for the social workers in institutions involved in the protection of children at risk (unaccompanied children and orphans), Herat The project is as follows:
INTERSOS also participates actively in the Child Protection Action Network, CPAN, divided into thematic groups to improve assistance to the most vulnerable and, facilitating the creation of a system of references for organizations and institutions that are involved.
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INTERSOS launched operations in Afghanistan in December 2001, in Maimana, in the north-western province of Faryab and, subsequently in 2002 in Kabul, Jalalabad and the north-eastern provinces, as well as Lashkar Gah and Kandahar in the south. Currently it operates in Kabul and Herat. INTERSOS focused interventions to meet the food emergency and, the reconstruction (in 2001 and 2002) to give concrete and effective answers to some of the priority needs (between 2003 and 2009).
Pakistan;
